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As salaamun aleikum brothers and sisters, I have kind of a weird question. While sitting here and just thinking for a while, I realized that as far as I can remember, all my memories from childhood moving forward have all been from the perspective of me seeing the event happening from outside of myself, usually from the upwards vantage point. Are anyone else's memories like this? Like for example, if I'm looking back over a memory of me holding a chicken when i was 9, I don't see the chicken in my hands, rather, I see the event unfolding from outside and above myself. And as I go back through most of my memories, that's the perspective that I see things from....18 years old jumping in the balls outside in McDonald's playland... I see myself and my best friend playing in the balls from outside myself. On remembering myself skateboarding on my ramp when i was 12, I do not see my memory through the eyes of a person on a skateboard going up and down the ramp, rather, I see myself from up high and from a distance watching myself skateboard. It's like this with all my memories. If everybody else has memories from the same perspective, I'm wondering why it is that we see things from outside ourselves in 3rd person perspective and not from the perspective of 1st person and being the doer of the action. Thanks for any input!

Salaam, To give her PLENTY of opportunity and time to repent and mend her ways so there could be no wrong doing or injustice attributed to Allah(سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى), astagfirullah. Also: [3:178] And let not those who disbelieve think that Our granting them respite is better for their souls; We grant them respite only that they may add to their sins; and they shall have a disgraceful chastisement. And: And he to whom We grant long life We reverse in creation; so will they not understand? (I wonder if she ever understood?) And somewhere else it says that Allah(سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) grants the world to the people who desire it but they have no share in the afterlife. As far as prime ministers are concerned, did she speak against their decisions openly? She has more going against her than for her as far as morals, ethics and justice are concerned..Just cuz she looks like a nice sweet ol lady and gave a few emotional speeches doesnt mean jack in the whole scheme of things. Practically every move she ever made is Google-able. People are short sighted/ deficient in memory and not good at critically thinking. (Sorry, dealing with a 3 day migraine and cant think too well and dont have the ability to search for all the specific ayahs) If ive said any wrong here, may Allah(سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) forgive me and may others correct me!

The First Zair of Imam al-Husayn (a)

Wassalam, I feel the answer lies in psychoanalysis. Experience gets alienated from the self. Simply put, as time progresses, all objects, including our past 'selves' at various points of time, become just another 'thing' in the past, as in, we don't think of our childhood selves as our 'selves' any longer. Your 9 year old self is no longer your present 'self', but just some 'thing' that happened in the past. Your subconscious no longer identifies with your 9 year-old past self. Hence the memory in 3rd person.

Are you pretending this doesn't happen in America? Because it happens in the streets, and they catch it on their dumb phones. They prostitute their bodies for drugs, to pay rent, and live a lavish lifestyle. And let me emphasize again, it does happen in broad daylight in the streets.

Bismehe Ta3ala, Assalam Alikum. This year, it is expected our Iraqi brothers and sisters will host over 20 million people from around the world. They are the kings and queens of generosity. Every year they save their money, and when the month of Safar arrives, they open their homes, serve the visitors with cooked meals, quench the thirst of the visitors, and do their utmost to make the visitors of Imam Hussain comfortable and taken care of. If your shoes need to be repaired, need your clothes sewn, need a massage (not Epstein version, Astgfor'Allah) for your feet and back, or need medicine the Iraqi people are ready to serve you and take care of your necessities. This service is done to every human being regardless of your creed, ethnicity, nationality, and race. They do this from the bottom of their heart, not expecting anything in return, all for the love of Imam Hussain and to reach closeness to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى). As expected, mainstream media doesn't cover this magnificent event, and ask yourself what is the reason why they are hiding this event. I want to take this opportunity to thank the nation of Iraq and the beautiful souls of our Iraqi brothers and sisters for teaching us hospitality, generosity, and love. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) reward you for your service and Imam Hussain as intercede on your behalf on the Day of Judgement. Allah grant us the visitation to all our Imams, Aba Fadthil, and Imam Hussain's companions. This latmiya explains wonderfully the service our Iraqi brothers and sisters offer to the visitors of Imam Hussain as. It is entitled, "Journey to God." Of course it has English subtitles. 3dthama Allah lakum al ajir. M3 Salamah, FE AMIN ALLAH

Why are more Pakistani women choosing to divorce? (msn.com)

Most welcome, sister. Now that you have set my brain churning, this is something that i am beginning to notice too. Most memories that I have are in 3rd person.

Yes.

Thank you for your explanation, brother. Do you also experience your memories in the same way?

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) bless Jaber Ibn Abdillah al-Ansari (رضي الله عنه).

If there's one lesson we learn from our ziyaraat, it's that people who are pleased with actions may as well have performed the actions. If the queen was pleased with her military, (or if she wasn't displeased with her military), she's to blame for the deaths of innocent people. Why did God give Abu Bakr reign? Why did He give Moawiya reign? Why did He allow Imam al-Husayn (عليه السلام) to be killed? Can you see how this argument is flawed? Sayyeda Zayneb, when talking to Yazeed (LA), quotes this ayah: وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّمَا نُمْلِي لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا نُمْلِي لَهُمْ لِيَزْدَادُوا إِثْمًا ۚ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُهِينٌ Let the faithless not suppose that the respite that We grant them is good for their souls: We give them respite only that they may increase in sin, and there is a humiliating punishment for them. [3:178]

Salam he is likewise a Ferris wheel which although you enjoy from sitting in it but at end of day it doesn't go anywhere in similar fashion his attitude to Shia Islam just keeps him at bay without any progress anyway his attribute keeps him away from radicalism.

The Kalam cosmological argument can be traced all the way back to Aristotle — The concept was later refined by Al Ghazali and Averroes — I'm confident that if we do a little archaeological excavation we'll discover the metaphysical origins of the theory derive from the teachings of the 'People of the House' (peace be upon them) somewhere — They are the fountainheads of learning and the torchbearers of light and understanding — All Islamic wisdom derives from them either directly or indirectly. I highly doubt Ali Ataie and Hassan Sherani are buddies — They come from two diametrically opposed and antagonistic versions of Sunnism (the age-old Sufism versus Salafism schism) — Zaytuna Institute founders (Hamza Yusuf and Zaid Shakir) have said some very unfavorable things about Wahhabism / Salafism in the past — In the same vein, the few times I saw Dr. Ali elude to Salafism, it has almost always been in a negative light — I've watched dozens and dozens of his videos — Dr. Ali critiques Shi'ism on rare occasion, but this is normal and natural because he's not a Shi'i and from time-to-time differences in doctrine need clarification / elucidation (there's a difference between bona fide theological differences of opinion and the dark incendiary overtures or semi-threatening sectarian mumbo-jumbo spewed by Sunni Discourse / Anti-Magos etc.) — He's also mentioned Shi'ism in a favorable light on a few occasions — Also, I'm not sure why you're harboring a gripe against Paul Williams — Personally, I think he's doing a splendid job with Blogging Theology — He's had Jewish guests (e.g. Rabbi Tovia Singer) Salafi guests, Sufi guests, Christian guests, atheist and agnostic scholars on as guests (e.g. Bart Ehrman) etc. — He recently invited both Bilal Muhammad and Khalil Andani on as guests — Seems pretty balanced and evenhanded to me. I think I read online (many many moons ago) that Al Ghazali once said or described al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī (peace be upon him) as a poorly-calibrated or ill-fated adventurer who got exactly what he deserved from the Umayyad authorities — I read it once (about twenty years ago) and never read or heard anything else about it since. The Saudi petrodollar has really popularized Ibn Taymiyyah during the last 50 years — It seems like every Sunni (even the normative or traditionalist Ashʿarī) khateeb feels compelled to reference him in some form or another in order for the sermon to be certified kosher.

Assalamu alaik, ya Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (عليه السلام)!!

I am very sorry to hear this sister. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) ease your difficulties, bihaqqi Musa ibn Ja'afar (عليه السلام).

17th of Safar, the Martyrdom of the 8th Imam, Imam Reza AS (by one account.) https://imam-us.org/martyrdom-anniversary-of-imam-ali-ibn-musa-al-rida-p-1444-a-h Imam Ali al-Rida (p) is reported to have said: “Your help to the weak is of the best [forms] of charity.” [Al-Harrani, Tuhaf al-Uqul, p. 446] روي عن الإمام علي الرضا (ع): "عَوْنُكَ لِلضَعِيفِ مِنْ أَفْضَلِ الصَّدَقَة" [الحرّاني، تحف العقول، ص ٤٤٦] For more information about Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (p), click here.

So here is the latest Nintendo Direct. Here is the great news. The sequel to the Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild now has a name. It's called The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. I am excited to get it in 2023. Best of all, we now have Pikmin 4 after years of waiting, rumors, and speculation.

I didn't say she was definitely in Hell, I asked Allah, "May she burn in the depths of Jahannam". Anyway, if your military has a policy of killing innocent civilians, chances are you're not going Jannah.

Summary: Teachers may not discuss sex & gender with underage students in secret. Consider what the media is telling you about the bill, then try reading the bill yourself. The full text of the bill may be found here https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/1557/?Tab=BillText Excerpt: "ENROLLED CS/CS/HB 1557, Engrossed 1 2022 Legislature CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1557-04-er Page 4 of 7 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S encourage a student to discuss issues relating to his or her76 well-being with his or her parent or to facilitate discussion of77 the issue with the parent. The procedures may not prohibit78 parents from accessing any of their student's education and79 health records created, maintained, or used by the school80 district, as required by s. 1002.22(2).81 2. A school district may not adopt procedures or student82 support forms that prohibit school district personnel from83 notifying a parent about his or her student's mental, emotional,84 or physical health or well-being, or a change in related85 services or monitoring, or that encourage or have the effect of86 encouraging a student to withhold from a parent such87 information. School district personnel may not discourage or88 prohibit parental notification of and involvement in critical89 decisions affecting a student's mental, emotional, or physical90 health or well-being. This subparagraph does not prohibit a91 school district from adopting procedures that permit school92 personnel to withhold such information from a parent if a93 reasonably prudent person would believe that disclosure would94 result in abuse, abandonment, or neglect, as those terms are95 defined in s. 39.01.96 3. Classroom instruction by school personnel or third97 parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur98 in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-99 appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards."

SubhannAllah! Its very sad that this version wasnt chosen as so many problems regarding certain ayahs, especially those regarding particular people or events wouldve prevented so many problems in the ummah. I wonder what the hikmah behind this is???

Salam, The Quran compiled by Imam Ali (عليه السلام) has some special features: 1. A number of early Sahabah (companions) explained that the compilation of Imam Ali ((عليه السلام)) was in the order of revelation. In other words, Imam Ali ((عليه السلام)) placed the Surahs in the same sequence in which they were revealed, starting from Surah Alaq, Surah Qalam, Surah Muzzammil, Surah Muddathir, and so on. This was the special hallmark of this compilation of Imam Ali ((عليه السلام)). 2. The second special feature of that compilation from Imam Ali ((عليه السلام)) is that he also compiled the background of these Surahs and Ayah, in addition to the actual compilation of the verses and chapters. This is called Asbabun Nuzul. So, Imam Ali ((عليه السلام)) recorded Asbabun Nuzul as well. Some of the early Sahabah (companions) noted that Imam Ali ((عليه السلام)) even included the place of revelation of the verses, in his compilation. 3. Some of the other Sahabah (companions) say that Imam Ali ((عليه السلام)) also added to his compilation the different explanations which Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) gave at that particular time along with the verses of the Quran. 4. The names of the people for whom the verses were revealed, in their praise or in their condemnation, was also mentioned in the compilation of Imam Ali ((عليه السلام)). These details obviously require huge amount of time. I can only wonder about the value of that version of compilation which includes every necessary things for the reader.

I didn't say prostitutes. I said they prostitute their bodies. And they is people in the United States. I think you are an immigrant. You have no idea what happens in your neck of the woods. Strangers Accused of Public Sex in Broad Daylight Outside SoCal Store https://ktla.com/news/local-news/strangers-accused-of-public-sex-in-broad-daylight-outside-socal-store/ sex in broad daylight on font step of their New Yorkhome The shameless pair were spotted going at it wearing nothing but socks and boots https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1967336/randy-couple-caught-having-sex-in-broad-daylight-on-front-step-of-their-new-york-home/

Yes protected for now and God's know how long, but at the same time the system makes every taghut possible to be practiced and manifested. I don't need to give an example, just open Qur'an and study the basic Islamic laws and see how much they contradict for Goverments laws and principles.

The deen is not for individual only, the deen is for the public and private. The deen is for the goverment too. When Imam Mehdi (عليه السلام) comes, there would not be a secular goverment, but everywhere the religion of Islam will take an position. The very same of rule of David. “It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth, so that He raises it above all religions, much as the unbelievers dislike it.” 'Indeed My righteous servants shall inherit the earth’ (Sūratul Anbiyā, No.21, Āyat 105)

It is a mental illness, that's how they treated it before. Now they encourage it as a lifestyle. God punish them.

I agree, it looks like we have forgotten all about slander being a big sin. We have become obsessed with fornication and alcohol. People want to force everyone to get married ASAP, to save them from fornication and forget that there are 70 Gunah e kabeera and so many gunah e sagheera. If watching any na mehram man on tv is equal to watching porn, drinking coca cola/ pepsi or coffee is equal to drinking alcohol, you can guess how they exaggerate other sins and accuse people of adultery/ fornication. If you force people in abusive/ bad marriages, they might be saved from fornication but they will commit other sins. And people stuck in abusive marriages are more likely to fornicate than single people. I think every woman should reject a man's proposal once to see his reaction. They go from "you are so beautiful and modest" to "you [Edited Out]! how dare you reject me?" It takes few minutes for them to decide to get married to me, and for me to reject them and their ego gets hurt and they slander me, spread rumors about me for months. After showing their true colors, they still think I will agree to marry them.

No sister. Unfortunately not yet. But I am confident that the Imam (عليه السلام) will summon me when he feels I am ready for an audience with him, inshallah.

The link below is from the Guardian. @Laayla since it appears you don't know let me educate you: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/sep/13/king-charles-will-not-pay-tax-on-inheritance-from-the-queen

The walk to Karbala really epitomizes what the love of AhlulBayt is really about. One will be hard-pressed to find any other place with as much self-less hospitality and devotion to serve 'strangers'. Millions walking in the same direction to pay homage to Syed-us-Shuhada. One has to experience it to understand its power.

Qaladnak al du32 wa ziyarah @AbdusSibtayn Brother, have you done ziyarah for Imam Hussain? I wish there was a Shia charity organization, where people who want to gift a ziyrah to the poor Shias, are able to donate to them. There are poor Shias in Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan and other countries who can't afford to go. M3 Salamah, FE AMIN ALLAH

Is it though? 6bn people disagree with you. The Quran says its Allah's book and it is error-free but isn't that circular logic? So what makes your belief in the Quran certain. It is the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), his words and his character that lead you to determine that the Quran is Allah's book. Just using the Quran as a basis for belief is incorrect. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) clearly said he is "leaving behind Quran and Ahlulbayt so you don't go astray". So how can you say Quran is enough? [Quran 4:59] O you who believe! obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority from among you; then if you quarrel about anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the last day; this is better and very good in the end [Quran 5:55] Only Allah is your Vali and His Messenger and those who believe, those who keep up prayers and pay the poor-rate while they bow. The Quran is pretty explicit in the leadership and guardianship of Allah, Prophet and a third group of select people. There is no dispute that 5.55 refers to Imam Ali (عليه السلام) as he is the one who gave zakat while praying. On the one hand your belief in the Quran is unquestionable. But when the Quran tells you that Ali is your Wali, you reject it and have doubts. How come?

Moreover, if we are going by that standard, then the previous century itself has seen more savage and rapacious warfare (inspired by secular ideologies) than the entire history of Christendom. Human morality is at its lowest ebb in the post-modern age, because nothing is inviolable or off limits.

Please remember me in your prayers, dear brother/sister. Salam Wa alaikis salam, It's superhuman. They manage to pull this superhuman feat off every year without fail. Come what may. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) bless our brothers and sisters in Iraq with peace, iman and prosperity!

So Hassan Shemrani's pal and Ghazali fanboy (Ali Ataei) finally having to resort to Avicenna's (Twelver-leaning Isma'ili) and Muhaqqiq Tusi's (hardcore Twelver) theodicy - who in turn borrowed from Imam Sādiq (as)'s theodicy- to respond to the problem of evil. Nice. His Imams Ibn Taimiyyah and al-Ghazali will be so disappointed in him for taking from the Rāfidāh, as will be his Anti-Majos, TSN and Sunnah Discourse-loving buddies Paul Williams (aka 'Free Monotheist') and Joseph Lumbard. Tough times man. There's no escaping these Rāfidāh.

TBH, I'm still cautious about being so sure especially since she actually has no power.

@Manaarim sorry for this situation but I’m sure if you stick to the truth, allah will bless you a great blessing. I wanted to answer your doubt about our fasting. We fast a bit later because that’s what the Quran has told us to do. Even the famous neil degrasse tyson a American astrophysicist tweeted that Muslim should break their fast later. This is his full tweet: The Qur’an says plainly that daytime fasting during Ramadan ends at “Dark” not at sunset. “Dark” is a good match for the end of twilight. This time of year: up to 15 mins later in equatorial latitudes. 30 mins at middle latitudes. And 45 mins at higher latitudes. I’m just saying. I hope I erased this doubt. If u want I can erase most of ur doubts with giving evidence of why Shia is the right path.

Here the filth called Allahyari is replying to a man who says Maraji are the deputies of Imam Mahdi and he calls Ayatollahs kaffir and yet you say this filth is serving shia islam: Well, it seems Allahyari's American sponsored tv channel in Persian did not get any followers. So now this time, wearing a tie, with a "different" look of his, he adresses Arabs and Pakistanis. Well, he has always sworn at the Ayatollahs in Qum, calling them djin worshippers. Now, he aims to swear and belittle the Ayatollahs in Najaf. I am just glad that Najaf, Jonoub, etc. became so much prominent in the Muslim World that these fools are now attacking them as well. So, it is good to know that Qom is not alone. Hizbullahis are spreading.

Salam has went went to Hawza of Qom which also he has established an office of his his sattelite channel in Qom which due to his his office in Qom has been sealed which also he has kicked out of from Hawza of Qom. حسن اللهیاری کیست؟ (توضیحاتی در باره شبکه فتنه گر اهل بیت)-تبلیغ اسلام و ولایت در آغوش آمریکا و انگلیس (anhar.ir) https://portal.anhar.ir/node/13632#gsc.tab=0

Allahumma salli ala muhammadiw wa ali muhammadin wa ajjil faraja hum Rabbinee lima anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqir Allahumma innee urreedu an atazawwaja faqaddir lee minan nisaa-I a’fihunna farjajan wa ah’fadh’ihunna lee fee nafsihaa wa awsa-i-hunna lee rizwan wa a-dhamahunna lee barakatan fee nafsihaa wa maaleee faqaddir lee minhaa waladan tayyiban tajaluhoo khalafan saalihan fee hayaatee wa ba`da mawtee. Oh Allah! I desire to marry, so arrange for me a woman from those who willingly abstain from what is unlawful and who safeguards her soul for my sake and because of her, not only my means of sustenance will increase, but also make there be in it abundance and also make it sure that she will give me a virtuous son, who will be a noble successor in my life and after my death. Ya Rabb, help me in finding a good wife in the same boat as me, who also understands and accepts me as I am. May she find peace and be filled with joy wherever she goes. May she have the strength and courage to find me, love me and live with me. May she find and be filled with much wisdom and clarity in her words and from her experiences. May she in her kindness, share these experiences with me and help us grow together. Verily with hardship comes ease. (إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا - 94:6) Ya Rabb, You alone know what is truly in my heart. You alone know my struggles and pain, Al-Wadud. I feel unbearably lonely and do not wish to incur Your displeasure by remaining unmarried, Al-'Aziz

Salam, Since I have many close family members, who are Catholic, I've given much time to reading about and studying the concept of Trinity. All Christians, as far as I can tell, acknowledge that this concept is "mysterious" and "We can never understand it" using reason, since "We can never understand God." The biggest problem with this view is that Trinitarians allow for the presence of logical inconsistencies in their minds, willingly, as long as these inconsistencies are parts of their faith. And this is the worst part of accepting dogma or believing in something dogmatically: They, willingly, put aside their reasoning capabilities and, willingly, accept and believe in what is logically inconsistent. Ultimately, they close the door to any rational debate on this topic, since it's a dogma that cannot be understood or debated. Any rational debate on this topic would be futile. Now, since Trinity is at the very core of the Christian religion, and since it's a necessary foundation for the rest of the religion, this means that the whole religion is built on a logical inconsistency, which has to be believed dogmatically. And here's a harsh, but I think true, statement: Christianity is an irrational religion. (This isn't a statement of disrespect. Just a factual statement.) Christianity does not abide by the rules of logic. What does this mean to Muslims? We cannot use logic to invite Christians to Islam. We ought to look for other means, such as being excellent representatives of Islam to appeal to their feelings, emotions, and preceptions, as opposed to logic and reason. So, we ought to work on our own virtues/adab, first. And more importantly, we should examine our own beliefs to ensure we do not hold beliefs that are logically inconsistent.

Nonsense. You're equating Western scholasticism with the entirety of Christendom. The Eastern churches laugh at the Latin Rite's attempts to rationalize things like transubstantiation and concupiscence. Read some Gregory of Palamas or Pseudo Dionysus and you'll get an entirely different view. There's a reason that apophatic theology is dominant in the East.

Oh absolutely. I'm of the opinion that universal truths do exist, so when I find something good that seems real to me, I claim it. I have already done this with some Islamic values that American culture tries to denigrate and shame people for (ex: living with my mother because she is a divorced woman who never remarried and doesn't want to, and she's getting older now. She fell last year and although she only got a bad bruise, I IMMEDIATELY began rethinking my decision to move in with my then-girlfriend and her son & have struggled with the conviction that I need to help my mother and protect her while she ages into a senior citizen). Believe it or not, so do I. I recently began reading the Bible from Genesis (straight through, like a novel) & although I am at Psalms now, I have already been able to compare Abraham, Noah, Elijah, David, Solomon, and noticed that they all had their strengths and weaknesses. I had read the Gospels before, but upon reading the OT I noticed that Jesus/Isa/Yahoshua was very different from the rest of these. I did the whole "Accept Jesus Christ Into Your Heart As Your Personal LORD & Savior©" thing many times as a teenager to make sure that salvation would "stick", but I've always had very extreme doubts as to what the Gospels say that Jesus taught versus what my priests, pastors, and other church leaders had taught me that he taught (he called himself the Son of Man rather than the Son of God, he prayed in Gethsemane in desperation, and my personal favorite that my local church leadership loathes to talk about because they are always selling books & DVDs: he drove the merchants out of the temple in disgust). I can kind of understand this, as Islam does seem to be very demanding when all you are exposed to is Salafism. However, I do not know anyone who has ever gone from Christian to Muslim, so I can't speak from experience but yeah, I definitely get what you mean. Can you elaborate on what you mean by this? I know exactly three Muslims on a personal basis, two are girls & none of them are particularly pious or devout people, although they definitely don't drink, date, etc but have always been very warm to me (the youngest one, a coworker, was inviting me to the masjid and wanted me to meet her dad & brother). I've never been to the Muslim world either (never even been to Canada, USA all my life) so I have no frame of reference for how people are. I think I get what you mean about not seeking truth outside one prophet's wisdom though, that's always been a very baptist/pentecostal/evangelical trait-- that the Bible quite literally fell out of the sky in 1611, in English, and that you don't need to look for wisdom or truth anywhere external to it. One of my biggest fears/barriers is that I am kind of in love with Jesus and don't want to give him up, and it's already been somewhat difficult for me to imagine walking away from him... but there is *something* about Islam, something that I can't exactly put words to or describe; that has appealed to me since I was a much younger man and was given a pocket "Complete Idiot's Guide to Islam" (with the words "complete idiot" scratched out & drawn over with black ink) by a high school classmate from Iran. But yeah, I'll do my best to keep you posted and let you follow my journey.

I actually agree with you, and that's what gets me kicked out of churches in my area. I mean, I've said pretty much what you've just written & argued it to them using the words of the Nicene creed (one being, consubstantial with the father... proceeds from the father & son, etc). Remember also that the protestants have removed I think it was seven books from the OT canon because they couldn't refute them, so organized Christianity has a tendency to cherry pick & ignore whatever is inconvenient to whatever doctrine they are pushing.

hi you are very near to the truth anyway we don't have any record that how he prayed God but upmost of mediation & any ritual in any prayer form of every religion is uniting with whole world & having straight connection with real creator of everything & everyone that as I studied that original prayer of jews was very similar to current muslim praying except folding hands that instructed by god to punish jews that said hands of god is closed so he can't do anything in world against sins of jews that sunni muslims inherited it through Zoroastrian Iranian prisoner that they were learnt it from resident jew in Iran before Islam at conclusion way of prayer of prophet Muhammad (pbu) through shia Imams & their followers preserved until know that great spiritual shia scholars like Allama Qazi (رضي الله عنه) & his students like Allma Tabatabaei (رضي الله عنه) & sheikh Behjat through this simple act of prayer & pure intention reached to upmost spirituality & connection to God/Allah that ou call it "meditating/collecting himself or whatever. "

could it be that those words were 1) mistranslated 2) injected by later scholars who want to push the Jesus-being-son-of-God agenda Both are entirely possible. I don't believe that the bible is the "LITERAL WORD OF GOD" & this has gotten me disfellowshiped in a number of churches in my region (I'm wearing out my welcome with churches & may soon have nowhere to worship, fellowship, & seek comfort) 1. My idea was that Jesus probably wasn't praying, but meditating/collecting himself or whatever. "Pray" would be the term that they would use as more people would understand that concept than they would meditation, although both are essentially the same when you get down to the brass tacks. 2. One of the biggest problems with the bible, particularly in my country, is that bible translations are produced for the cynical purposes of promoting the agendas & dogmas of denominational leadership ("elders" aka older lay people who have no ministerial training but believe that their personal beliefs should be propagated). Oh yeah, and because if you own the copyright to a bible translation, your church doesn't have to pay a licensing fee to quote more than 50 verses for a sermon series/books/etc. ...which has made me recognize why "bidah"(sp?) is a thing in Islam. Hebrews 2:17 & John 11:41-42 were always the verses that I was given when I asked this question. It sort of makes sense but feels like one heck of a stretch & this is the aspect of Christianity that I am currently in crisis with; but see my above comment (1.) Again, could be a translation/agenda pushing issue. I've never read the original texts and likely never will, so I can't tell you. Because the "trinity" isn't really three distinct persons, but different aspects of God's character. Like how Allah has 99 names that explain his character, those names and attributes don't divide Allah into 99 different gods. Of course, pointing this out will get me shunned/disfellowshiped from your average church so I only go into my personal interpretations of it when someone asks me privately... or on ShiaChat Yeah, that's what that sounds like & that's why I hold the belief that I do (the "trinity" is just three specific aspects of God's character rather than three distinct beings). Believe me, I've struggled with this my entire life and then realized "Wait-- I can actually believe what makes sense to me without the permission of an old man" The OT talks about the Ruach/Sophia in addition to "God the father" and interestingly enough, this aspect of God is alluded to as being of a feminine/motherly character that's tied in with breath & the wind. This is commonly understood to be the means by which God creates/calls/selects his prophets & fills them with his wisdom (also a euphemism for the Holy spirit itself) for the mission He has assigned them. The Qur'an supposedly mentions this concept four times as "Ruh al-Qudus" but assigns this to Gabriel rather than God himself. I began reading the bible cover to cover while I was in jail earlier this month. I'm at Psalms now, but if I can find it anywhere I will let you know. Again, I'm pretty sure that this whole trinity thing has something to do with ancient numerology (they love their numbers) but Christianity is different because you don't have to believe any dogma you don't want to aside from the whole "Jesus Christ Is My Personal Lord and Savior©" thing because that's quite literally what the long & short of it is. There are more than a few Modalistic Monarchianist & unitarian Christians. It gives you the privilege to think for yourself, which of course has been tremendously downplayed or outright ignored for the purposes of social cohesion/control. I don't have the answers and I never will while I am wearing this meat suit, so these are all just my opinions as I work through the absurdities of church dogma and remind myself that God gave me the mind he gave me for a reason & that if he didn't want me to question and examine these ideas, I wouldn't be capable of doing so. Sorry for the long post brother. I hope that maybe this may help you defuse what is perplexing you, but keep in mind also that my views are from my innermost convictions and not a church hierarchy trying to control or modify my behavior. It causes me to "wrestle with God" almost on the daily, jail was really the thing that renewed my faith but I'm more honest and much less willing to accept a dogma now & that's likely why I don't fit in with any religious tradition.

I'm sorry, but that's a load of rubbish. Re-read the comment I made on that thread you made: "Here in the UK there are employers who care less about your academic qualifications and more about the experience you've accumulated throughout your educational career. And sometimes the degree you do in University doesn't even need to be directly relevant to the occupation you wish to pursue. English Literature, for example, is valued by employers in the Law/Education/Information & Research/Marketing sectors, meaning there are many jobs for you to pick within these categories." In the case of Ancient History (or just History), it can lead to rewarding careers in many sectors: Education, Media, Publishing, Law, Heritage, Museums and charities, and government positions. Besides, I'm terrible at maths and find science boring. Why should I force myself to do something I'm disinterested in? And likewise, Philosophy isn't useless either.